Supersub Xavi sets up late Barcelona win

MADRID (AFP) - Substitute Xavi Hernandez scored a late goal to set Barcelona on their way to a 2-0 win over Granada on Saturday which maintained their perfect start and sent them 11 points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid.

The Catalan side have now picked up a maximum 15 points from their opening five games.

But for most of this match they looked off-colour and appeared to be heading for a draw until Xavi's goal four minutes from the end, which was then followed by an own-goal from Borja Gomez.

It was tough luck on Granada keeper Tono Rodriguez who had produced some excellent saves to repel the home side but in the end he was helpless to stop Xavi's excellent strike from the edge of the area which went in off the crossbar.